Critical decisions regarding the next steps in the management of the pandemic are taken today by the Council of Ministers, which meets at 11:00.
The table will put the latest data on the epidemiological picture of Cyprus, the situation in hospitals and estimates for hospitalization in Intensive Care Units, with any decision scenarios to "lock" at the last minute.
However, until the last moment, all possibilities remain open, even that of the lockdown.
In statements yesterday at KYPE, the Minister of Health, Konstantinos Ioannou, said that "lockdown is a scenario that remains on the table", urging citizens to proceed with their vaccination as soon as possible and to protect their health.
As Mr. Ioannou said, the risk of further increase of cases and hospitalizations is real and visible, again appealing to the citizens to show once again a spirit of cooperation and to follow the guidelines of the health protocols.
He warned that "if we get to the point where we will not have beds, but also staff to treat our patients, we will automatically lose control and experience what we saw in other countries, where nursing staff had to choose which lives to he was saving ".
It is noted that yesterday the new cases of the disease COVID-19, diagnosed in 843 with a positive rate of: 1,59%), bringing the total number of cases to 58.865, while 291 patients COVID-19 of which 71 are in serious condition or in Intensive Care Unit conditions.
Of the 71 patients who are critical, 33 are intubated, six are admitted to an intravenous intensive care unit and 32 to an intensive care unit.
As the increased cases of the last few days will translate into hospital admissions in the immediate future, there is no room for de-escalation of the measures.
Extension of existing measures until May 15, with small exceptions for Easter holidays
According to information broadcast by KYPE the day before yesterday, the prevailing scenario is that the government is considering extending the existing measures against the spread of the coronavirus until May 15, however, it is also considering the possibility of small exceptions for certain days, during its celebrations. Easter.
In particular, these exceptions may relate to the day of Holy Saturday, as well as to Easter Sunday, and in particular to the extension of citizens' traffic and gatherings in homes.
The Government is considering the possibility of extending the traffic on Holy Saturday, so that people can attend the Resurrection service, as well as the gathering of people in houses on Easter Sunday, with the number not exceeding ten.
The final decisions, however, are expected to be taken today by the Council of Ministers.
According to the same information, the high number of new cases that are detected every day and the suffocating situation in public hospitals do not leave much room for the Government, which does not rule out the possibility of taking more urgent and stricter measures.
Church service during Holy Week
Regarding the attendance of the faithful in the churches during Holy Week, the same information has ruled out for the time being the possibility of an increase in the number of people within the churches, however, the faithful will be able to hear the divine services from the churchyard.